Metallurgical apparatus



Feb. 28, 1933. cl R. KUzELL.

METALLURGICAL APPARATUS l Filed Nov. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l` INVENTOR(idr/e5 7? /faz/Z HIS ATTORNEYS Feb. 2s, 1932..` RKUZELL 1,899,161-

METALLURGICAL APPARATUS Filed NOV. 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l2 INVNTOR.(/mr/as 7?. /fazeZ H15 ATTORNEYS Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED vsfrrrEsPATENT OFFICE CHARLES R. xUzELL, or CLARRDALE, ARIZONA, AssIeNoR ro.UNITED VERDE corran COMPANY, oF cLARxDALE, ARIzoNA, A CORPORATION orDELAWARE MRTAILLURGICAL ArrARA'rUs Application :Med November 2, 1929.Serial No. 404,848.

This invention relates to metallurgical apparatus and has for an objectthe provision of an improved apparatus for subjecting materialsito betreated to the action of gaseous reagents. More particularly, theinvention contemplates the provision of an improved apparatus forsubjecting a molten bath to the action of a reducing agent. Theinvention further contemplates the provision of an improved apparatusfor. treating zinc-bearing materials.

According to some heretofore customary practices, gases to be introducedinto receptacles containing materials to be treated thereby aregenerated or produced at points remote from the receptacles. The gasesare stored under slight pressure, and when the operations beingconducted require thev introduction of the gas under vconsiderablepressure it is necessary to' provide an additional compressor or blower.While such gases are usually produced at high temperatures, their heatcontent is dissipated while they are in storage or while they are beingconducted from the storage receptacle to thereaction chamber orreceptacle. Consequently, not only is considerable heat wasted, butinsome types of operations, such, for example, as those involving theintroduction of reducing gases into a molten mineral bath, heavydeposition of carbon takes place in the tuyres interfering with thepropery operation of the apparatus.` e Y, i

The present invention contemplates the provision of apparatus as aresult of which the necessity for blowers or com ressors is eliminatedand by means of whic the heat contained in rases when .generated may be"saved and utilized.

According to the invention, reducing gas is v introduced directly from agas enerator into lEhe generating chamber to'lthe treating chamer. y

In one of the preferred forms of the invention, the apparatus consistsof a receptacle adapted to hold a molten mineral bath, a reduclng gasgenerator mounted on the receptacle, and suitable tuyres providing meansof communication between the gas generator and the interior of themolten bath receptacle. The tuyres communicate with the interior of themolten bath receptacle below the normal bath level, and additionalmeans'ma providedfor introducing other solid or uid reagents into theinterior of the receptacle at Y any desired points. The molten bathreceptacle may be mounted for rotary movement throu h any desired arc,and, when the receptacle 1s so mounted, the generator is preferablymovable therewith.

The invention may be used to particular advantage in processes involvingthe treatment'of slags and mattes and similar products vresulting fromthe smelting of ores con-l The gas generator is preferably mounted on aside wall of the converter in such a manner that relatively shortconduits or tuyres may be used for providing means of communicaftionbetween the combustion chamber and the interior of the converter. Theportions of the tuyres or conduits which are disposed between the gasgenerator and the outer shell of the converter may be covered withinsulating material to prevent heat losses, or the gas generator may beso mounted that the exposed portions of the tuyres or conduits aresufficiently short that the heat losses are negligible. In the treatmentof zincbearing material, the reducing gas is injected into a molten bathof the material beneath the surface thereof. The gases are introducedinto the molten bath at temperatures and presmaterials a convertersimilar to those sures substantially equal to those at which they aregenerated. The apparatus is prefreceptacle 10 comprises a sheet metalshell or erably provided with tuyres for introducing air or otheroxidizing gases into the converter at points above the surface of thebath vto oxidize any metallic zinc produced, and means are provided forcollecting lthe resulting fume.

The invention will be better understood from a consideration of thefollowing description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich is shown one of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and inwhich Fig. 1 is a section taken substantiall along line 1--1 of Fig. 3and showing one orm of apparatus which may be constructed in accordancewith the present invention and which may be used advantageously intreatin zinc-bearing materials;

ig. 2 is a section taken substantially along line 2;-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially along line 4--4 of Fig. 5 andshowing a type of gas generator which may be employed 1n constructingapparatus in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a section taken substantially along line 5-5 of Fi 4.

A reaction c amber or molten bath receptacle 10, which ma be one of theusualtypes of converters use for example, in copper smelting, is mountedfor movement about a horizontal axis on rollers 11 rotatably supportedon a suitable foundation 12. The

casing 13 having annular metal rings 14 mounted thereon adjacent theends for contact with the rollers 11. The shell or casing 13 is providedwith a suitable refractory lining which may comprise a'layer of heatinsulating brick 15 and a layer of heat refractory material 16.The'receptacle 10 is preferably so formed that a restricted opening 17is provided for charging and discharging and for permitting the e ess offumes. A passage 18 may be provi ed for permittin inspection or samplingof the contents.

l Worm wheel 20 is mounted on-one end of the receptacle 10 in axialalignment with the horizontal axis. A worm 21 engages the worm wheel 20,and means (not shown) are provided for rotating the worm 21 to rotate ortilt the receptacle 10. 1

A gas generator 22 is rigidly attached to vthe receptacle 19 formovement therewith.

The gas generator 22 comprises three telescoping, axially aligned,hollow metal cylinders 23, 24 and 25. The cylinders are of such sizesand so spaced as to provide an annular combustion chamber 28 surroundedby an annular air chamber 29. The centrally disposed cylinder 25 formsan ignition tube which may be heated for starting the operation of thegenerator. rl`he centrally disposed cylinder or ignition tube 25 is ofgreater length -than the intermediate cylinder 24 and theand -is adaptedto be inserted thereinfor starting the operation of the generator.

The outer cylinder 23 lis provided with a central opening 31 in itsupper portion which communicates with a source of supply of air underpressure (not shown) through a conduit 32. A partition 33 is disposed inthe air chamber 29 between the outer and intermediate cylinders adjacentthe opening 31 and extends longitudinally of the cylinders, engaging theend plates 26 .and the walls of the intermediate and outer cylinders. Aplurality of burners 34 are mounted on the intermediate cylinder 24 onthe side of the partition 33 opposite to that on which the opening 31 islocated. Each burner comprises a casing 35 having an open end projectinginto the interior of the combustion chamber, .an air inlet nozzle 36,and an oil inlet nozzle 37. The air inlet nozzle extends through the endwall of the casing 35 and provides' means of communication between thecombustion chamber 28 and the air chamber 29. The oil inlet nozzleprojects downwardly to a point adjacent the inner end of the air inletnozzle. The adjacent ends of the air and oil inlet nozzles are ofrestricted cross sections. The oil inlet nozzle communicates withaconduit 40 provided with a suitable control valve and connected to asource of supply of oil (not shown). nozzle is provided with a punchingrod 38 for disloclging sediment and other obstructing materials.

A plurality of nipples 41 extend ythrough the outer and intermediatecylinders and communicate with the interior of the combustion chamber.The nipples 41 are connected to tuyres 42 which communicate with theinterior of the receptacle -10 adjacent the bottom. The outer ends =ofthertuyres 42 are provided with valves 4 3 which permit the insertion ofbars for punching urposes.

An air manifold 44 is mounte on and extends alon vthe receptacle abovethe gas generator. T e air manifold is connected to a plurality oftuyres 45 which communicate with, the interior of the rece tacle abovethe normal level of the molten ath. For urposes of illustration, thenormal bath evel The oil inlet is shown by horizontal dotted linesindicated by the numeral 49 of Figs. l and 2. The air manifold isconnected by means of a conduit 46 with a source of supply of air underpressure' (not shown).A The tuyres 45 are provided with valves 48 whichpermit the insertion of bars for punching purposes.

The outer shell of the gas generator is provided with openings andremovable inspection plates 47 immediatel adjacent the burners 34.Observation tu s 50 extend through the outer casing and 'combustionchamber wall into the interior of the combustion chamber. Theobservation tubes 50 are sealed at their inner ends and they aresuiiiciently large to permit the insertion of pyrometers. y r

In the operation of the apparatus the receptacle may be charged withmaterial to be treated, such, for example, as a bath of molten mattecontaining a zinc compound. For charging and discharging purposes, thereceptacle may be tilted to place the charging opening in any desiredposition. For the treatment of zinc-bearing and other materials fromwhich recoveries of fume are to be made, a hood connected to a suitablesuction device and a bag-house (not shown) is provided.

The operation of the gas generator is started by heating the i nitiontube 25 by means of the pilot burner 2 A pilot burner may be inserted inthe. ignition tube at each end. Heat from the ignition tube is radiatedto and heats the insulating material o'n vthe wall of the combustionchamber. Heating is conducted in this manner until the temperature ofthe combustion chamber wall is at least equal to the ignitiontemperature of the air and oil mixture to be introduced. Air and oil arethen admitted in the proper proportions to provide a reducing gashaving'the desired qualities.` The burners admit the air and oil in theform of a mist in which the air 'and oil are intimately mixed. Theintimate mixture of air and oil enters the combustion chamber betweenthe heated walls of the ignition tube and the combustion chamy ber andit is immediately ignited. The resulting gas passes through the tuyres42 directlyV into the converter at a temperature substantiall equal tothat at which it is generated.

T e gas reduces the zinc'compounds in the molten bath to form metalliczinc which is vaporized. The metallic zinc vapor is oxidized by means ofair introduced above the bath throughvthe air inlet tuyr'es 45. Theresulting fume containing zinc oxide issues from the converter throughthe opening 17 and may be collected in anysuitable manner.

After the operation of thegas generator has been started, heating bymeans of pilot burners is discontinued and the open ends of the ivnition tube are plugged.

W en removal of zinc from a bath has been completed, the converte; istilted to discharge the remaining material and another charge isprovided. During the charging and discharging operations the operatlonofthe gas generator may be suspended by cutting off the supply of airand oil. If the discharging and charging operations are'conductedrapidly, the gas generator will be suiiiciently hot to resume operationwithout requiring reheating by means of pilot burners. If desired thetemperature of the gas generator may be maintained by means of a pilotburner whlle the reducing operations are suspended.

I claim:

1. Metallurgical apparatus comprising a molten bath receptacle, acombustion chamber, means for introducing a mixture of finely dividedcarbonaceous'naterial .and air under pressure into the combustionchamber, means for controlling the relative amounts of air andcarbonaceous material introduced into the combustion chamber, and one ormore tuyres providing direct means of communication between the interiorof the combustion chamber and the interior f the molten bath receptaclebelow the normal bath level, the combustion chamber being so disposedwith respect to the molten bath receptacle that the gas generated in-thecombustion chamber is forced into the molten bath re ceptacle bypressure developed as a result of changes in temperature and physicalstate of the carbonaceous material during the course of the productionof the gas.

`2. Metallurgical apparatus comprising a molten bath receptacle, acombustion chamber, means for introducing a mixture of finely dividedcarbonaceous material and air under pressure into the interior of thecombustion chamber, means for controlling the relative amounts of airand carbonaceous material admitted to the combustion chamber, and one ormore tuyres providing direct means of communication between the interiorof the combustion chamber and the interior ei' the molten bathreceptacle below the normal bath level, whereby gas produced in thecombustion chamber may be introduced into the interior of the moltenbath receptacle at a temperature substantially equal to that at i one ormore tuyres providing direct means of communication between the interiorof the combustion chamber and the interior of the kmolten bathreceptacle below the normal bath level, the combustion chamber being sodisposed with respect to the molten bath receptacle that the gasgenerated in the com- 4v Y l 1,899,161

bustion chamber is forced into the molten v bath receptacle by pressuredeveloped as a result of changes in temperature and physical state ofthe carbonaceous material during the 5 course of the production of thegas.

4. Metallurgical apparatus comprising a moltenvbath receptacle, acombustion chamber, means for introducing a .mixture of fine- 1y dividedoil and air under pressure into .10 the combustion chamber, means forcontrolling the relative amounts of air and oil introduced into thecombustion chamber, and one or more tuyres providin direct means ofcommunication between t e interior of p 15, the combustion chamber andthe interior of the moltengbath receptacle below the normal bath level,the combustion chamber being so Y disposed with respect to the moltenbath receptacle that the as generated in the com- 20. bustion chamber 1sforced into the molten bath receptacle by pressure developed as a resultof changes in temperature and phys; ical state of the oil duringthecourse of the production of the gas. 25 5. Metallurgical apparatuscomprising a.

molten bath receptacle, a .combustion chamber, means for introducingcombustible material and air under pressure into thecombustion chamber,means for controlling the 30 relative amounts of air and combustiblemateria-l introduced into the combustion chamber, and one or more tuyresproviding direct means of communication between the interior of thecombustion chamber and the '35 interior of the molten-bath receptaclebelow the normal bath level, the combustion chmber being so disposedwith respect to the molten bath receptacle that gas generated in thecombustion chamber is forced into the Y molten -bath receptacle bypressure developed Y as a result of oxidation of combustible materialduring the course ofproduction of the gas.

In testimony whereof I aix m signature. CHARLES R. UZELL.

